THE LODGE HISTORY by Bro Alastair B Nisbet P.M.
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THE LODGE HISTORY |
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Lodge Kirkton Hall No 1614
In the year 1963 rumblings
began around Bathgate of the need for another masonic Lodge,to be
formed and based in the community of Boghall. The talking went on
throughout 1963,then on the 28th
January 1964 the first ever meeting of ''The Boghall Masonic Club'' was
held in Boghall primary school. At this time, Boghall was approximately
half the size it is today, so the task ahead was not to be
underestimated.
In the chair, for this special evening was Bro R Hossack P.M. a past Master of Lodge Torphichen Kilwinning No 13, and the principal guests were 1. Bro Alex Pennycook R.W.P.G.M. 2. Bro James Williamson R.W.J.G.W. The official business of this inaugural meeting included, 1. The amount of money required for raising a new Lodge (£500). 2. The forming of a social club to raise the required amount of funds, and the members were in agreement a committee was then proposed and seconded with Bro R Hossack P.M. as chairman. 3. The weekly subscription from each member was agreed at 2/6 (12 1/2p). 4. Who the collectors of the subscriptions were going to be, the first collectors were C Kennedy, A Marshall, C Dickie, B Caruthers and C MacAlhagga. 5. The most suitable evening, for club meetings was agreed to be the 4th Tuesday of each month. 6. That instruction classes should be included at regular meetings with Bro Glen Hunter P.M. of Torphichen Kilwinning No 13 in charge. 7. All Brethren who wished to be founder members to give their names to either Bro R Bennie or Bro C Kennedy. When closing the meeting Bro R Hossack P.M. thanked the Brethren present, all 72 of them for attending and especially the principal guests for their time and efforts. He also expressed his hopes that this was a new beginning and that the new Lodge would go from strength to strength. The next meeting was then agreed for the 20th February 1964. After the meeting the Brethren spent some time discussing the way forward whilst drinking tea, which was the only refreshment at the time. During the next few months many meetings of ''The Boghall Masonic Club'' were held and listed here are some of the main points that were discussed. 20th Febuary 1964 The work involved in raising a new lodge would include: 1. Sending an
application to Grand Lodge with a petition sheet and bylaws at least
two months prior to approaching Provincial Grand Lodge for a charter. 2. As the next meeting
of Provincial Grand Lodge was on the 23rd September 1964, it was
agreed that the petition sheet should be presented to the Provincial Grand Secretary before then. 3. A declaration had to be signed stating that all founder members had paid the necessary dues. 4. Provincial Grand lodge had to view the lodge premises. 5. Asking members' wives to assist with fundraising. The petition for the lodge charter was received from Grand Lodge through Provincial Grand Lodge. A copy of the Lodge bylaws was received as well as "notes" on forming a new Masonic Lodge. The treasurer reported that the club funds now stood at £35. It was agreed that the raffle prize at each meeting would be 5/-. Friday 13th March 1964 The Election of the office bearers took place, as this was for the first offices of a new lodge, there were different opinions as to who should receive which office. The naming of the Lodge also took place on this evening and again there were different opinions as to the name, the nominations were 1. Kirkton Hall
Kirkton Hall was the winner by one vote from Kirkton Stewart
with the voting being 14 - 13.2. Kirkton Stewart 3. Kirkton St John Tuesday 13th April 1964 After various fundraising events the club funds were now £90-15-5 and an account had been opened in the British Liner Bank in Bathgate. The selection of lodge colours took place and was proposed and seconded as "Black and Gold". The selection of sponsor lodges took place. Two lodges are required and this required careful consideration, the chairman asked the members to spend some time on this matter before making a final decision. It was then proposed and seconded that Lodge Torphichen Kilwinning No13 and Lodge Lord Bruce No1601 were to be our sponsor lodges. Tuesday 27th April 1964 The Right Worshipful Masters Gavel for Lodge Kirkton Hall was presented by Bro Joseph Welsh. Chairman Bro R Hossock chose the Harvey ritual for Kirkton Hall. Club funds now stood at £137-14-0 Tuesday 12th May 1964 Messrs Gouldilocks were voted to be suppliers of lodge regalia. Special bylaws were formed. Initiation fees were agreed at £10-10-0. Annual fees were agreed at £0-15-0. Tuesday 26th May 1964 Director of Cermonies Baton donated by Lodge Ulster. A further two mallets were donated, by Bro Joseph Welsh, for the W.S.W. and the W.J.W. The new ritual was tried out for the first time. Tuesday 9th June 1964 Attendances at club meetings were starting to decrease. Club funds now stood £224.13-0. Tuesday 23rd June 1964 After several resignations of office bearers, the chairman asked for unity of ALL members of the club. Club funds now stood at £245-13-0. Tuesday 22nd September 1964 A deputation from Lodge Lord Bruce visited the club. A special welcome to Bro C Bryce from Lodge Torphichen Kilwinning No13. Letters were sent to all masons in the Boghall area regarding the small attendances at club meetings. The design for the Founder Members badge was proposed and seconded. Tuesday 13th October 1964 Following an inspection by Bro Alex Pennycook R.W.P.G.M. granted permission to use Boghall Primary School for lodge meetings. Lodge Kirkton Halls meeting nights were agreed to be the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month. Instruction clases were to continue, each Sunday, at the Seafield Institute at 4.30pm. Following more resignations 9 offices were to be filled at the Annual General Meeting, these were 1. Senior Warden
2. Junior Warden 3. Senior Deacon 4. Junior Deacon 5. Inner Guard 6. Chaplain 7. Almoner 8. Architect 9. Senior Steward Tuesday 10th November 1964 A rehearsal of the entered apprentice degree took place. The two deacon's wands were donated to the lodge. Tuesday 21st December 1964 17 brethren were present at this meeting which was the best attendance for a long time. The club secretary resigned due to work commitments. The meeting nights of the club were changed from Tuesday to Friday to allow the members to get used to meeting on a Friday. Friday 8th January 1965 Lengthy discussions took place regarding the consecration and installation date, also the dinner, toast list, caterers, programme and the souvenir glasses with date and lodge number inscribed. The furniture makers stated that the lodge furniture would be read for the consecration date. The lodge carpet was purchased price at £55-4-6. A donation of £28 was received from Lodge Lord Bruce No1601. Friday 15th January 1965 Consecration dinner tickets were priced at 15/-. The first 10 Initiation forms were placed into a draw and the first five that were drawn were to be the first five candidates of the new lodge. Lodge Lord Bruce No1601 offered to supply the stewards, for the Consecration dinner and the members of the club agreed that a maximum of three hundred tickets were to be sold. The members accepted the sign for the second degree, as demonstrated by C Dickie. Friday 12th February 1965 The price for a Founder Members badge was £1-1-10. Friday 19th February 1965 Several, Masonic aprons, were donated to the lodge by Lodge Torphichen Kilwinning No13. All vacant offices had been filled at this time. As this was the last meeting of the club, before the consecration of the lodge, many brethren stayed back after the meeting to discuss the forthcoming weeks. The time was now right for the new lodge to begin, all the fundraising and hard work had all been worthwhile. The brethren of the new lodge had all the preparations for the consecration dinner well organised and everyone was looking forward to 6th March 1965. CONSECRETATION
and ERECTION
of LODGE KIRKTON HALL No 1614 Finally after all the hard work and careful planning, the big day was here and on the 6th of March 1965, the first ever meeting of Lodge Kirkton Hall No 1614 was held in Boghall Primary School at 2.30pm. Present at that meeting were the R.W.P.G.M. Bro Alex Pennycook, the Provincial office bearers and 300 brethren from 37 different lodges from within and outwith the province. Lodge Kirkton Hall was opened for the first time by the R.W.P.G.M. for the purpose of installing the new lodge office bearers who were 1
R.W.M
Robert Hossack P.M.
2 Dep Master James Paris 3 Sub Master William Cherry 4 W.S.W Campbell Dickie 5 W.J.W John King 6 Sec Charles Bryce 7 Tres James Kerr 8 S.D Alex Marshall 9 J.D Eric Hossack 10 Almoner George Wilkie 11 Chaplain Tom McLean 12 B.B John Slater 13 D of C Robert Carruthers 14 Architect Henry Bethune 15 Jeweller John Harris 16 S. Steward Robert Gilmour 17 J. Steward George Thom 18 Marshall James Mackie 19 I.G Craig Kennedy 20 Tyler William Brown The collection at the meeting raised the very fine sum of £42.10. After the meetin, the brethren then went to Whitburn Miners Welfare to enjoy the consecration dinner. The tickets wre priced at 15/- (75p) and the numbers were limited to 300 and the Founder members Jewel was on sale price £1-1-10. The caterers were West Benhar Co-op and the stewards were brethren of Lodge Lord Bruce. Another collection was taken, which raised the very fine sum of £20-3-6, which was donated to P.G.L benevolence. A
Poem to Lodge Kirkton Hall
by
Bro John F Anderson
A name was picked with
tender care, endowed with love and grace,
Devised by wisdom, then displayed, the Masonic world to face, Under this name our path will run, we will not halt or fall, For we met tonight to choose a name for our Mother in Boghall. It cannot be for everyone to choose his Mother's name, Nor see her birth, or watch her grow to lustre, grace and fame, Adorned by beauty, fragrant, fresh, like yonder waterfall, We gave a name with our love, and called her "Kirkton Hall". What lies before us in our task, what trials we may meet, We'll overcome, and onward march, squarely beat, For as the prize at journey's end, shining brightly over all, We may travel on the level road that leads to Kirkton Hall. Strenght to support we ask from Him who tends our every need, That we may help, as brothers will, our kind by word and deed, And when our earthly race is run, and we answer that last call, May the highest testimonial be: "He belonged to Kirkton Hall". Although no pillars grace our porch, we have them in our heart, The cement of love is strong enough to make us play our part, And benevolence our canopy, embracing one and all, Who enter through the well tyled doors of kindly Kirkton Hall. Only the years will tell us if our labours have been blessed, If all our self allotted tasks have passed the Master's test, So from labour to refreshment, charge your glass and make the call, "To Grand Lodge, Provincial, Sponsors, and the new Lodge Kirkton Hall". LODGE
KIRKTON HALL 1614
Bro Jim Gullane PM 636 K is for Kindred Spirit that we all should
share
I is for the Interest, we all show that we care R is for the Ritual, that we all must know K this time for Kindness to our visitors we show T must stand for Time a lot of which we need O for the Obligation we've taken and should heed N is for Necessity of our presence at our meetings H must be for Hard work, your post lightly don't be treating A is for Ability we've proven we possess L should be for Loyalty, total to your Lodge, no less another L is needed in this receipt, or draft L must be for Lodge and our Love of this our Craft. Bro James Gullane PM Lodge
Buchan St John No 636 presented
this poem to the lodge at the annual Installation on 17th November 2000 |
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